Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1602’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1602’ which is characterized by the combination of a vertically flattened, broad obovate to near orbicular plant form with a slightly spiraling aspect, dark green succulent foliage with subtle light greyed-green radial bands, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Sansevieria cylindrica.

Variety denomination:

The inventive variety of Sansevieria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘SUPSAN1602’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2016/2649, filed Oct. 31, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Sansevieria variety ‘SUPSAN1602’ originated as a seedling selection from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seed parent, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXU1804’ (not patented), with the proprietary pollen parent, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXU1806’ (not patented). Both parents were developed by, and are owned by, the inventor and were never commercially released. Said crossing was conducted by the inventor in a small, netted greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand in November of 2006. Seeds from said cross were harvested, then germinated, and the resulting seedlings were grown to a mature size in order to evaluate for a desirable combination of commercial characteristics. In August of 2008, one candidate plant was observed to exhibit a unique growth habit and leaf coloration. After confirmation of the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed, the inventor selected the new Sansevieria cultivar, ‘SUPSAN1602’, for commercial introduction.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘SUPSAN1602’ by way of harvesting vegetative ground shoots was first initiated in August of 2008 at Chonburi, Thailand. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation of vegetative ground shoots, five generations have been reproduced which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUPSAN1602’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUPSAN1602’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUPSAN1602’ as a new and distinct Sansevieria cultivar:

-   -   1. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1602’ exhibits an equitant and upright to         outward growth habit; and     -   2. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1602’ exhibits a vertically flattened,         broad obovate to near orbicular plant form with a slightly         spiraling aspect; and     -   3. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1602’ exhibits thick, succulent terete         foliage; and     -   4. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1602’ exhibits dark green foliage with         subtle light greyed-green radial bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘SUPSAN1602’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘SUPSAN1602’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in October of 2017, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 month old ‘SUPSAN1602’ plants grown in 12 cm containers, at a commercial greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand. The plants were grown using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Sansevieria plants which consisted of overhead irrigation, 50% shade cloth, and no fertilizer. No photoperiodic or chemical treatments were given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘SUPSAN1602’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘SUPSAN1602’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar commercial variety of Sansevieria are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Monopodial perennial; equitant and upright to             outward.         -   Plant form.—Vertically flattened with a slightly spiraling             aspect; broad obovate to near orbicular at the widest point.         -   Average height.—31.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—15.8 cm at the narrowest point, and 32.0 cm at             the widest point.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderate.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Propagation type.—Division of vegetative ground shoots;             harvesting ground shoots from the mother plant.         -   Propagation details.—The time needed to root a shoot             division is approximately 2 to 3 months with temperatures             ranging from approximately 17 to 40 degrees Celsius.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Plants have not been observed to be             susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to             Sansevieria.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to             wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense and moderately branched rooting;             roots are slightly fibrous.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Diameter of roots.—0.15 cm on average.         -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.         -   Color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS 162D. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Monopodial, equitant; decurrent leaf bases             form the stem.         -   Number of primary (main) stems per plant.—One.         -   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.—None.         -   Appearance and shape.—Stem is not visible; decurrent leaf             bases form the stem.         -   Length.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an             average length of 5.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an             average diameter of 2.8 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.7 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Distichous.         -   Attachment.—Decurrent.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Quantity.—9.         -   Attitude.—Outward; at an average angle of 50 degrees to             vertical.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 24.2 cm long and 1.8 cm wide. Thickness             — Approximately 2.7 cm. Shape of blade — Linear; succulent.             Cross-section — Terete. Aspect — Nearly straight. Apex —             Acute with a slightly papery tip which is colored             greyed-white, nearest to RHS 156D. Base — Decurrent. Margin             — Leaves are terete so there are no margins, with the             exception of the leaf base; leaf base margins are entire.             Texture of upper surface — Glabrous, smooth, and succulent.             Texture of lower surface — Glabrous, smooth, and succulent.             Luster of the upper surface — Very slightly glossy. Luster             of the lower surface — Very slightly glossy. Color —             Juvenile foliage, upper surface — Green, nearest to in             between RHS NN137B and NN137C, with mottled radial bands             colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 193A. Juvenile foliage,             lower surface — Green, nearest to in between RHS NN137B and             NN137C, with mottled radial bands colored greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 193A; the base is yellow-green, nearest to in             between RHS 144B and 144C. Mature foliage, upper surface —             Green, nearest to in between RHS NN137A and 139A, with             mottled radial bands colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS             193A. Mature foliage, lower surface — Green, nearest to in             between RHS NN137A and 139A, with mottled radial bands             colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 193A; the base is             green, nearest to RHS NN137A but slightly darker; margins of             the decurrent base are yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148D.             Venation — Pattern — Parallel. Color, upper surface — Green,             nearest to RHS NN137A. Color, lower surface — Green, nearest             to RHS NN137A.         -   Petiole.—No petioles present, leaves are decurrent. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1602’ differ from the seed parent, Sansevieria ‘MXU1804’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

Comparison Between ‘Supsan1602’ and ‘MXU1804’

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1602’ ‘MXU1804’ Overall plant size. Smaller than Larger than ‘MXU1804’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. Rate of growth. Slower growing than Faster growing than ‘MXU1804’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. Leaf thickness. Thicker than Thinner than ‘MXU1804’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. Leaf length. Shorter than Longer than ‘MXU1804’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. General coloration Lighter green. Darker green. of the foliage. Leaf pattern. Lesser occurrence of Greater occurrence of greyed-green mottled greyed-green mottled radial bands. radial bands.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1602’ differ from the pollen parent, Sansevieria ‘MXU1806’ (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

Comparison Between ‘Supsan1602’ and ‘MXU1806’

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1602’ ‘MXU1806’ Overall plant size. Larger than Smaller than ‘MXU1806’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. Rate of growth. Faster growing than Slower growing than ‘MXU1806’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. Leaf thickness. Thinner than Thicker than ‘MXU1806’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. Leaf length. Longer than Shorter than ‘MXU1806’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. General coloration Darker green. Lighter green. of the foliage.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR SANSEVIERIA CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1602’ are most similar to the commercial cultivar, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘SAN201202’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,457). A comparison of ‘SUPSAN1602’ with ‘SAN201202’ is described in Table 3.

Comparison Between ‘Supsan1603’ and ‘San201202’

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1602’ ‘SAN201202’ Leaf attitude. More outward. More upright. Leaf thickness. Thinner than Thicker than ‘SAN201202’. ‘SUPSAN1602’. General coloration Dark green. Light greyed-green. of the foliage. Leaf pattern. Subtle mottled Prominent mottled radial bands. radial bands. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1602’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 